FlaG & Wh i s t l E Official Newletter of the BC Soccer Referees Association – Holiday Issue The Darren Clark Experience Major Leage Ref – “Kamloops This Week” newspaper by Marty Hastings This article has been edited for Flag & Whistle

David Beckham is one of the best 90,500 fans at the Rose Bowl in soccer players in the world. To Darren Pasadena, Calif. A year later, he Clark, a 37-year-old assistant referee from worked a game between Costa Rica, Kamloops, the English footballing super- the home side, and Spain. star was just No. 23 in white at the MLS “There was basically the entire Cup on Saturday, December 1, 2012. Spain team on the field that had won “If somebody asks you, ‘How was that the World Cup in 2010,” said Clark, a game from a fan's perspective?’ and you teacher at Logan Lake secondary. can answer that question, you probably Clark, who started working MLS haven't been concentrating,” said Clark, games in 2008, did 13 matches last who patrolled the sidelines when the Los season, including two playoff games Angeles Galaxy downed the Houston and seven tilts featuring the Van­ Dynamo 3-1 at the Home Depot Centre in couver Whitecaps. An assistant ref- Carson, Calf. eree of his calibre in MLS is paid The entire on-field officiating group at $720 per game. Travel and accommo- the championship final was Canadian – a dation costs are also taken care of and first. Daniel Belleau a per diem is provided. of Quebec was the game’s other assistant Clark’s Logan Lake students are referee, while of aware of his activities away from was the match referee. school and occasionally find photos of “There’s that extra pressure,” said Clark, their teacher online. who found out minutes before The Kamloops High School gradu- the game it would be televised in 157 ate posed for a picture at the Cup final countries. alongside movie star Gerard Butler “They're looking at us and saying, OK, and Galaxy captain Landon Donovan, we've decided to give you this game, now among others. Clark might see that it’s up to you guys to perform.” one pop up in class in the near future. “We’re performing for ourselves, but “The ultimate goal is working a also for the possibility of Canadians being World Cup final or a FIFA tourna- appointed to a game like that in the ment, but you need a lot of luck and a future.” Darren Clark of Kamloops watches closely as David lot of people advocating for you,” Most of the final’s critical decisions – Beckham bursts up the sideline during an exhibition Clark said. including a pair of disallowed Robbie match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Vancouver Working high-profile matches is Keane Whitecaps at Com­monwealth Stadium in Edmonton goals and the two penalty kicks in 2008. good for the resumé, no doubt, but awarded – were not made by Clark. “They Walter Tychnowicz photo that alone is not enough to earn the were made at the other end,” he said. right to referee the world's most pres- “It turned out to be a very clean game in a variety of different leagues and divi- tigious tournaments. for our team. The new guy in charge of our sions. In 2006, Clark decided to take the “You also have to have a game that referee organization called PRO – Pro­ assistant-refereeing path, feeling he was presents you with difficult decisions to get fessional Referee Organization – is Peter better suited to be a linesman (AR) than correct,” said Clark, president of the Walton. He came to the room afterward a referee. Kamloops Soccer Referees’ Association and said, “That was an outstanding perfor- The Canadian Soccer Association nomi- during the 2006-2007 campaign. mance from all of you.” nated Clark to the FIFA list of international “You could have a game with no mis- Clark started refereeing in Kamloops officials in 2007 and, by 2008, he was a takes but, if there wasn’t a lot in it for you when he was in Junior High School. FIFA-certified Assistant Referee. in terms of really, really difficult deci- He got serious about officiating in 1999, Clark said the Cup final – Beckham’s sions, it’s hard to separate yourself from a year before he moved to Victoria for last MLS match – likely tops the list of the rest.” university. high-profile games he has officiated. In Perhaps Clark is just a few controversial It was on Vancouver Island where 2010, Clark was on the pitch for a friendly calls away from reaching his goal. he began moving up the refereeing ranks, between Mexico and New Zealand. Stay tuned. earning praise for his work on the sidelines The international was played in front of Read P-2: Canadian Referees honoured President’s Message New FIFA List The new FIFA list is out!. The Members and referees; (and I hope you to dem- BC-based refs are as follows; that this F&W reaches many more onstrate to Michelle Pye is one of two female referees than just our members) I other referees refs for Canada, Paul Ward is one would like to wish you all a Happy the value of of three male refs and Darren Clark New Year, and a successful year in belonging to of Kamloops is one of the four male football for 2013. Make sure you set an organisa- assistants. The link to the FIFA website is yourself a challenging resolution for tion of your www.FIFA.com/associations/ the year: In December I scraped peers. associations=can/footballofficials/ through the provincial level fitness E v e r y referees/peoplekind=wor.html test. I really hadn't thought I would week I write make it at the age of 52, but with some a “thought for Nick Hawlwy serious training and a set of drills to the week” on the BC Soccer Referees Fraser Valley improve my sprinting I did it. facebook page – I would love to see I think I may be the oldest provin- all of you adding your own comments Meeting Dates cial referee in 2013! Now for next and thoughts to that page. The Executive of the Fraser Valley year – I think that I will also need to We are also actively lobbying BC Area branch (FVSRA) has finalized lose some weight if I want to succeed Soccer in many areas to encourage monthly meeting dates for the first half of 2013. and get another year as a provincial. better support for referees and we are They will be held on the first As an executive, we have set our- taking our famous education sessions Wednesday of each month: selves another resolution – to increase out to any club or league that wants to January 9, February 6, March 6, the reach of the BCSRA. We lost better educate it's referees. April 3, and May 1st. Kamloops Area last year which was a So, I wish you a prosperous 2013. A All meetings will be take place on great loss to us; and we realised that we year where you develop further as a the Ground Floor Meeting Room of need to do more for referees every- referee (even at 52!) and a year where the Langley Legion. Start time is always 7:30 pm. where. We cannot grow without your you find friendship in other referees Address: help – we need you to let us know what around the province. 20570 - 56 Avenue you value from BCSRA, what you Nick Hawley Langley. would like from BCSRA and we need President

Canadian New Appointees to BC Soccer Board Referees (adapted from www.bcsoccer.net article of Nov 1,2012) honoured Fraser Valley Area Association up for election. The 2012 Major League Soccer (MLS) (FVSRA) Life Member Rob Brown is “As indicated in the article, Pre­ season has seen Canadian officials recog- one of two appointees to the BC Soccer viously a BC Soccer Board of Director, nized with two major honours: Canadian Board of Directors. Rob, also a Life Rob rejoins the Board with a wealth of FIFA Referee Silviu Petrescu was hon- Member of BC Soccer, joins Harjit soccer experience.” oured by the League as the 2012 Referee- Chima as new members on the provin- Having participated in soccer as a Of-The-Year. cial governing body’s board. player, coach, referee, board executive On the heels of this announcement, the The appointments come after the (including President of the Fraser Valley MLS Cup final was officiated for the first death of 1st Vice-President Les Sinnott Soccer League). time by an all-Canadian crew: Silviu as and Director Peter Vrankjovic, the lat- Rob is also a Life Member of BC the center referee with Canadian FIFA ter who resigned in October 2012. Soccer. In rejoining the Board Rob Assistants Darren Clarke of Kamloops The positions are to fulfill the remain- hopes to apply his knowledge and expe- and Daniel Belleau of Quebec (see arti- der of these former directors terms to rience to help in the development of the cles in this issue). The 2012 Referee-Of- June 2013, after which the positions are sport and BC Soccer Association.” The Year award is voted on by players, coaches, and members of the media. Silviu is the first Canadian to be Yellow and Red, its Introduction bestowed this honour. The MLS Cup final, played on December 1, 2012 be­tween The initiative of Yellow and Red Yellow card when he booked Evgeni the Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles cards for player infractions started in Lovchev, USSR. 51 more yellow cards Galaxy, ended in a 3-1 win for Los 1966 but was only introduced by FIFA were handed out at World Cup matches Angeles and was the last MLS game for more than three years later at the 1970 before the first Red was shown. Galaxy midfielder . World Cup in Mexico. This dubious honor fell to Carlos Congratulations to our fellow Canadian During the opening match between Caszely of Chile at their opening match officiating colleagues! Mexico vs USSR, german referee Kurt against West Germany during the 1974 Tschenscher made use of the first ever World Cup in West Germany.

2 Fl a g & Wh i s t l e –Holiday 2012 issue Imagine, a Soccer Referee who's well-liked

Waterloo’s Silviu Petrescu is not only to win the award because there are so The game wasn’t without controversy first Canadian to win MLS officiating many good referees,” Petrescu says. "But as Petrescu awarded a penalty kick to Los award but he’ll rule over league’s champi- with hard work I was able to achieve it.” Angeles star player Landon Donovan in onship as well The Romanian-born Canuck also credits the 73rd minute with the game tied 1-1. [email protected] a strong support system at home for con- Donovan converted the attempt to score Silviu Petrescu is the first Canadian to tributing to his on-field success. the winning goal for the Galaxy. win Major League Soccer’s referee of the “I’ve been away from home this year “To call a penalty you have to be in year award and he’ll become the first to for almost four months. Three days here, the right position at the right angle at the officiate the league’s championship game right moment,” Petrescu explains. “I was on Saturday. The 44-year-old Waterloo in the right position with the right view to resident received a phone call on Nov. 20 see it and to me it was a clear penalty, 100 informing him that he’d been voted the per cent.” league’s best official by MLS players, “Its part of the game, it could have gone clubs, and media for the 2012 season. the other way and Vancouver could have A half hour later and his phone was had a penalty, but its all part of the ringing again, this time to offer him a spot game.” refereeing the 16th MLS Cup between the Petrescu believes his ability to make split- Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy second decisions is a big part of why he’ll at The Home Depot Center in Carson, be refereeing when the Galaxy (16-12-6) California. attempt to defend their league title against “I couldn’t believe it, I was happier than the Dynamo (14-9-11) this weekend. the first call,” Petrescu says. “I called my He has worked an MLS Cup before, as wife and was like ‘I have more big news the fourth official when the Colorado after another.’ After so many years, all the Rapids defeated FC Dallas at BMO Field travelling, weekends away from family, in two years ago, but Saturday this is a great achievement as sort of a will be the first time he or any other payback.” Canadian will be the lead official on the “I knew I had a great season but I didn’t Silviu Petrescu pitch come game time. expect it to be this good.” With his international refereeing eligi- Petrescu earned more than 36 per cent five days there,” says Petrescu, father of bility coming to an end with his 45th birth- of the players’ vote, more than 34 per cent two teenage girls. “I could have never day next year, Petrescu would like to con- of club votes, and exactly half of the media done it without my wife, Antonela. She is tinue to officiate MLS matches for the vote en route to winning the award over the best.” next couple of years. American runner-up Baldomero Toledo. It has been a year of firsts for the life- “I like refereeing, this is my hobby,” He refereed 20 regular season MLS match- long referee, whose resume includes offi- says Petrescu, who is also a co-owner of es this year and has been an official in the ciating at international matches, including United Taxi and spends up to 40 hours league since Toronto FC joined the MLS the under-20 World Cup, CONCACAF behind the wheel of a cab each week. as its first Canadian team in 2007. Champions League, World Cup qualifiers “If they don’t ask me to return it’s not “I’m very happy to be the first Canadian and the Pan-American Games. the end of the world, I’m still going to be He officiated the first MLS postseason supporting the league and supporting the Fl a G & Wh i s t l E is published 6 times game involving a Canadian team when the Canadian referees. I have a lot of experi- a year by the BC Soccer Referees Vancouver Whitecaps FC fell to the Galaxy ence and can help the younger referees.” Association. The material presented 2-1 on Nov. 1 in the Western Conference Thanks to the MLS players, clubs, and is from contributors. The BCSRA knockout round at the same venue that media, he also has a new addition to his assumes no responsibility for its content. hosts Saturday’s final. trophy case. Editor Elvio Chies ••• Staff Writer Tom Babic Contributing Phil Barrington Laurie Miller Dieter Freundt Research Emil Udovich VASRA ELECTIONS Mynor Campos Production Dieter Freundt Members affiliated with the At press time, a nominating com- Vancouver Area branch (VASRA) mittee had not been announced. The Letters to the editor are welcome should be aware that the following meeting will be held at the Bonsor and should be directed by email to: positions are up for election at the Community Center (South Burn­ [email protected] or [email protected] upcoming AGM on Monday, aby Metro Club Room), located at or by mail to: January 28t, 2013. the corner of Bonsor Ave and BC Soccer Referees Association President, Secretary, 2nd VP, and Central Boulevard in Metrotown. c/o 8130 Selkirk Street Director Vancouver, BC, V6P 4H7 . All are two year terms. Meeting starts at 7:00 pm.

Holiday 2012 issue – Fl a g & Wh i s t l e 3 She-Referees in Victoria by Laurie Miller, BCSRA VP Ed note: A special symposium was held The session started with Marie-Josee record for attendance at a women's soccer in conjunction with the CIS Women's describing how in her first year as a FIFA match – the second only women's match Championships in Victoria this past Assistant Referee she participated in the to have ever been played in that facility! November. CONCACAF Women’s Olympic qualifi- Any high-stakes match, from a referee’s BCSRA Vice-President Laurie Miller ers (Vancouver), Algarve Cup 2012 perspective, is a success when it ends was fortunate to attend this symposium. (Portugal), and 2012 Olympics (London). without controversy. Here she gives us a synopsis of the pro- Marie-Jose attributes her incredible year Carol Anne and Marie-Jose, her assis- ceedings. of officiating as being in the right place tant referee for the match, can be proud to The CIS (Canadian Interuniversity and the right time – but only two first-year have played a part in the 2012 Olympics Sport) Soccer finals were held November FIFA referees were selected from a group and at Wembley. 9 to 11 at the University of Victoria. of 37 referees – so I think she earned her The three Canadian FIFA referees gave Select women referees from across the spot! generously of their time and attention to province and country were invited to offi- Carol Anne Chenard has been a FIFA the women referees in the room. They ciate. During the competition UVic hosted referee since 2006. Her Olympic highlight then moved on to the field to give some a number of “SheKicks” events, aimed to was being assigned to the versus tips on the practical aspects of refereeing. help increase the involvement of women Brazil game at . It was an excellent day for the women in all aspects of soccer: playing, coaching On every level this was the game to be referees who attended. and officiating. The SheReferees compo- assigned to: the host country versus the Carol Anne offered sage advice: treat nent was led by our three Canadian FIFA powerful team from Brazil at the most every game as “important;” by doing that referees: Marie-Josee Charbonneau, prestigious soccer venue in the world. you will be ready when you get the big Carol Anne Chenard and Michelle Pye. The game at Wembley set a British assignments!

CIS Women’s soccer final November 8-11, Victoria. Front row L-R: Roy Branco, Holly Teshune, MK Battle, Suzanne Morisset, Michelle Pye, Tiberio de Frias. Back row: Jean Thompson Candace Brown, Alexis Vaughen, Brea Moore, Marie-Soleil Beaudoin, Martin Reid

Championship match officials Amanda Velutini, AR-2; Selenna C... 4th; Carol Anne Chenard, Referee; Marie-Josee Charbonneau, AR-1

Officials for 3rd place match MK Battle, AR-2; Marie-Soleil Beaudoin, 4th; Shereferees at Classroom session Michelle Pye, Referee; Suzanne Morisset, AR-1. all photos: Tiberio de Frias 4 Fl a g & Wh i s t l e – Holiday 2012 issue Officials for CCAA Men’s Nationals The CCAA Men’s National Soccer Championship was held November 7-10, 2012 at Cunnings Field in Coquitlam, B.C. Douglas College hosted the tournament. All preliminary matches took place under the watchful eyes of the four national referees: Andy Foster, Rubin Smilev, both BC; J.P. Jalbert, Quebec; and Peter Manastyrsky, Manitoba. The host province BCSA supplied the other 10 officials. The Refereeing crews for Saturday, November 10 matches: Championship game: Humber College vs VIU Mariners J.P. Jalbert, Referee; A. Foster, AR-1; P. Manastyrsky, AR-2; S. Lebrechthausen, 4th 3rd place game: Seneca College vs Xavier Garneau R. Smilev, Referee; A. Kessler, AR-1; E. Fryer, AR-2; J. Marques, 4th. 5th place game: Nait Ooks vs Douglas College S. Tanaka-Freundt, Referee; A. Gubeli, AR-1; I. Andrews, AR-2;S. Lebrechthausen, 4th. 7th place game: Sait Trojans vs Holland College L-R: Thomas Davies, AR-2, Jas Parr, 4th; Frank Major, J. Marques, Referee; National Assesor; Rubin Smilev, R; Juan Marques, AR-1 B. Hartman, AR-1; J. Parr, AR-2; T. Davies, 4th. photo: Dieter Freundt

L-R: Stephen Lebrechthausen, AR-2; Aaron Gubeli, 4th; L-R: Iain Andrews, AR-2; Evan Fryer, 4th; Peter Manastyrsky, R; JP Jalbert, R; Stefan Tanaka-Freaundt, AR-1. Jas Parr, AR-1. photo: Dieter Freundt photo: Dieter Freundt CIS Western Championship

Officials L-R: Rachel Jacobs, AR-2; Michelle Pye, R; Thomas Davies, 4th; Troy Henke, AR-1. L-R: Aaron Kessler, AR-2; Brett Hartman, 4th; Andy Foster, R; photo: Dieter Freundt Iain Andrews, AR-1 photo: Dieter Freundt

Holiday 2012 issue – Fl a g & Wh i s t l e 5 players more for their verbal fouls on me rather than the physical Tom Speaks ones they inflict on their opponents. However many of my colleagues refuse to get caught up in the The rain was relentless. It came debate. “Part of the game. Gotta treat it as water off a duck’s on slowly and the pace and quantity back,” they claim. of sky-sent water increased, as the Oh yes, it rained and rained. The repetitive patter of pathologi- minutes ticked away. It had been a cal players who know that if permitted their slurs would stain the long time coming this year. And now game. The referees ran and ran. Game after game always the that it was here, I wasn’t surprised. It same, slurs raining down. Just like the weather produced deluge, was a common occurrence in my a hail of hatred on the game. The fields soaked in sad acceptance home town; often referred to as that this was our game. Rainy Haney. “Why do you do it?” A common lament of the die-hards. The pleasantly lengthy summer So with the first wisps of my own breath becoming visible as had run a course, that some say had almost made them forget the long hot summer now behind me. I ran a slow cool down. what rain felt like. The walks up to the park, even well into Truth be told, my post game sessions are often as much a practice October, were frequently emphasized by the stark lack of water. to prevent physical cramping and spasms as they are to ward off The borders of the pitch – a dull brown that seemed to show a the repetition of the question above. The rain pelting down could disregard for the beauty of the game. be another reason to be sombre. But tonight’s after-run was not to The only thing that kept the grass green on the field after the be the usual. long hot summer was its synthetic colour. Otherwise the sur- The shirtless fellow approached in contradiction to the roundings lacked the respect for the game that mimicked the weather. He stuck his hand out in respect and offered a sincere players’ attitudes. apology for his previous attack on my authority. He had been More often than not the only colour at the game, aside from the convinced I had it out for him, simply because I called two fouls multihued spectrum of jerseys, was the language spouted off in short order. Having made a ridiculous accusation during the towards the officials. So much so that it became a staple of the match, he now recanted. exercise of the 90 minutes. Most of my colleagues, both well He was not the first in recent weeks. In fact this was now the known and the ones I only know through our mutual employment third such exchange after a game in successive weeks. “Could I in the world’s most played game, seemed to have accepted the take credit?” I hardly think so. However, one of the main reasons outcome. That the constant bickering, complaining, and foul I referee is my subconscious propensity to teach. I won’t accept mouthed attacks are just a given of the game. that the game needs to remain polluted with disrespect. I will Call me a renegade but no matter how many times someone continue to remind players that the game can be played with calls into question my intelligence or ethics and begins to berate intensity, passion and above all respect. me at a volume and veracity that is not suitable for addressing So as the long hot summer gives way to the inevitable fall and their dog, simply because I stopped play for a very well deserved the rain streamed down, I ran on; confident that some of the ugli- free kick. I do not accept it. I frequently find myself admonishing ness of the game was washed away and well behind me. U-15/16 Players charged over Linesman’s Death At exactly 5:30 pm Monday, December 4, forty-one-year old statement was forthcoming, Dutch tv station RTL said that he had Richard Nieuwenhuizen of The Netherlands died in the Almere brain damage. hospital. This was not only a tragic but utterly senseless death. Following the incident, police immediately arrested two The son of Mr Nieuwenhuizen plays for the Buitenboys junior 15-year-olds and one 16-old player of the Nieuw Sloten team. The “B” youth team of Almere. The age of these players is between 15 Dutch Football Association, KNVB, acted immediately and sus- and 16 years. pended all three players for life. As a father and rabid soccer fan, Mr Nieuwenhuizen closely How­ever, as of Friday, December 21 the number of arrests had followed his son’s matches, went to the practises 3three times a increased to eight people – seven teenagers and a 50-year-old week, attended all games, and whenever possible volunteered as man. The youths are being held in an undisclosed youth detention a linesman during the team’s home games. centre. All these people face manslaughter, assault, A day before his untimely death, the Buitenboys and public violence charges. hosted the Nieuw-Sloten squad from Amsterdam, It was not the first serious incident of this particu- and as usual Mr. Nieuwenhuizen officiated this lar Nieuw Sloten “B”-team. Earlier in October, some match as a volunteer linesman. members apparently had told the coach of FC Shortly after the final whistle players from Nieuw- Almere “...if you weren’t over 50 years we would Sloten run over, confronted, mobbed and started beat you to death.” Right away the coach took ref- physically assaulting him. He could momentarily uge in the clubhouse. His team refused to play the run away but players quickly caught up, threw him return match. to the ground and allegedly hit and kicked repeat- This action is in stark contrast to the decision club edly to his body and head. The goalkeeper of Richard Nieuwenhuizen officials of the Buitenboys and Nieuw Sloten teams Buitenboys, Niels van Steen, tried to help but was made on Thursday, Decmber 20. The two bosses also beaten up. agreed on a return match. After the attack Mr. Nieuwenhuizen went home by himself. Not Buitenboys club director Marcel Oost told Almere radio station realizing the severity of the injuries, he later returned to his club Omroep Flevoland “we will play against each other again.” when he suddenly lost consciuousness and collapsed. National broadcaster NOS said that the encounter between the An ambulance immediately took him to the Almere hosptial two clubs would happen soon. No specific date was given. where he died at 5:30 pm Monday afternoon. Though no official dkw 6 Fl a g & Wh i s t l e – Holiday 2012 issue VASRA support Covenant House Covenant House in Vancouver held a fund raiser “Sleep with Such was Lenarduzzi's commitment to the cause, that he was the Homeless” last month. Well known sports figure and former even prepared to make peace with the refereeing community, in soccer star Bob Lenarduzzi, President of Vancouver Whitecaps praising their contribution to the event: FC took part in this overnight venture. “I’m very indebted. Throughout my years, my playing days The Vancouver Area Soccer Referees Association (VASRA) and my coaching days, it’s always been a love/hate relationship put its support behind Bob and donated $200.00 to benefit with the officials. I’ve always respected what they do. Sometimes Covenant House. Bob had attended numerous meetings of the I’ve disagreed with the calls they make. VASRA as a guest speaker and also had assisted the association Even now, I sit and I’m sometimes critical of the officiating but on other projects. the game needs officials obviously and we have a great group Covenant House Vancouver is a crisis center that takes in and here in Vancouver so I’m really thankful to VASRA for providing helps local homeless youth that have nowhere else to turn. It has this $200 donation. It’s more than I ever would have expected so a 75% success rate of getting these youth back on their feet and thank you very much VASRA.” into the community. The entire event was captured by the website The entire article also includes pictures from ProstAmerika ProstAmerika.com. Vancouver correspondent and VASRA 2nd VP Mynor Campos. In an article posted November 16, 2012, Bob made specific It can be read at www.prostamerika. reference to referees and the VASRA donation: com/2012/11/16/74476/74476 Beautiful Games: Subbuteo memories by Terry Lee (as appeared on guardian.uk.co) Ed note: The Guardian newspaper has been running a weekly series called “Beautiful Games” about soccer-related toys. In their most recent installment, the website posted a series of photos of figures from a British table soccer game known as Subbuteo. As the Guardian website put it: “...all nostalgic with these specially-crafted Subbuteo figures made by enthusiast Terry Lee. Using body parts salvaged from crushed players and with kit details painstakingly hand-painted, each model takes up to two days to create. The resulting figures, which depict classic These three young referees get ready for a local U-14 match. on a moments from footballing history...” cold November morning. L-R: Brendan Jarvis, AR; Cassandra Here we present some of the more infamous moments, the Wainwright Referee, Emma Fewings, AR. photos: Dieter Freundt ones that were talking points to us as referees.

Kassi Kirlik shows great hand signals Maradona’s “Hand of God” Zidane‘s “Headbutt” WC 1986 WC 2006 Final Soccer “Shorts” The word is derived from an abbreviation of association, as in . In 1890 it was spelt variously as socca and socker. It is said that upper class sportsman had a fad of adding “er”to everything. Rugby became rugger and socca became soccer. *** A medical professor had just finished a lecture on the subject of mental health and started to give an oral quiz to the first years. Speaking specifically about manic depression, the senior doctor asked, “How would you diagnose a patient who walks back and forth screaming at the top of his lungs one minute, then sits in a chair weeping uncontrollable the next.?” A young man in the rear of the room raised his hand and answered, ‘A Premiership football coach!???’ De Jong’s “Karate Kick” – WC 2010 Final Holiday 2012 issue – Fl a g & Wh i s t l e 7 Sorry Everyone, but it’s Time to Respect Referees (and do it publicly)

Ed note: the following article far higher profile case recently in the Major League Soccer has not escaped. appeared on Prostamerika.com on English . Last season, all three Cascadian clubs were December 19, 2012. Due to the In a very tempestuous match between penalised for their own incidents regarding length of the article, an edited ver- Chelsea and Manchester United, referee officials. Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid sion appears here. For the full article, Mark Clattenburg sent off two Chelsea was fined $2,000 and banned for a game players. In the officials' locker room for his live on air comments about referee go to: after the match, Chelsea midfielder Jon , Vancouver’s Barry www.prostamerika. Obi Mikel apparently threatened Robson was suspended for launching the com/2012/12/19/sorry-everyone- Clattenburg, for which he received a ball at a referee and missed a Cascad but-its-time-to-respect- three match ban. Chelsea publicly ian derby for his troubles, but the biggest referees/75600 accused Clattemburg of making racist fine was levied on Portland owner remarks against Mikel, accusations Merritt Paulson for ‘inappropriate con- which very soon proved to be totally duct directed at the officials, and through unfounded. Yet, despite Clattenburg's the use of social media, during and after the obvious innocence in the matter, he Timbers' match against D.C. United on missed four weeks of refereeing while September 29, 2012’ the truth eventually surfaced. Paulson declined the opportunity to com- MLS PRO General Manager Peter ment on the issue of respect for referees for Walton, in an interview with Prost this article. Schmid has used his press con- Amerika, cautions against drawing the ference to attack referees more often than wrong conclusions from recent events: not when things don't go his way, occasion- “What has shocked here is that you ally straying well over the line of arguing a got two isolated incidents that have decision was wrong into the area of a per- attracted far more media attention than sonal attack. they really should do. What we are Through the Sounders FC Press Office, endangering ourselves of doing is sug- he also declined to comment on the issue of gesting that we have an issue where an respect for officials. issue doesn't exist. In our opinion both Cascadian clubs You do have an undercurrent of abrogated an opportunity to show leader- respect and that's important. But in ship on this issue in the off season, after a Time to respect referees terms of taking those two isolated inci- year where they were both more than keen Let's face it everyone hates referees. dents, it's just a coincidence as far as I to publicly disrespect officials during it. Supporters only notice them when calls am concerned which perhaps the media At the time of the Barry Robson ban, the go against their side. The abuse referees have built up more than they should club admitted the ban was deserved and take for those decisions is in no way com- have done.” they actually have a decent history in this parable to any praise they may receive for Nowadays, it seems universally respect. Former coach Teitur Thordars­ awarding the same team a glut of penalties ac­cepted that you may surround the ref­ son refused to blame a referee after the or sending off a succession of opponents. eree to attempt to influence his decision club’s elimination from the USL in 2010 Besides, it is not even the core mission of using whatever physical presence or despite being invited to do so by a journal- the referee to assist one side's bid for vic- words that will influence him. To do so ist. Even in the case of the Robson suspen- tory but to interpret and apply the laws of is to attempt to dissuade him out of sion where they found out on the eve of an the game. All too frequently however, we using his judgment on the facts alone as afternoon kick off, club President Bob have seen verbal assaults on referees, even a criterion. Lenarduzzi refused to divert blame from where they applied those rules absolutely Football stands alone in this respect. their own performance on the timing of the correctly. What is acceptable on the football news. Fans are of course entitled both to their field is completely unacceptable else- We also asked the Whitecaps for a quote opinion and to voice it. They may object to where – try surrounding the judge's on the issue and they were happy to point receiving the same amount of abuse in their bench with several bodies, yelling loud- us to remarks Lenarduzzi made about offi- own workplace but they have no overriding ly, in a court of law or even at a work- cials at his sleep out for the homeless, obligation to the facts, or the good of the place administrative tribunal, where far where he affirmed his respect for what they game. Nor have they any obligation to sit more important decisions than who gets do; and ask us to reaffirm them: quietly at a match. a free kick are decided. “Throughout my years, my playing days A higher standard applies to those It isn’t even acceptable in other sports. and my coaching days, it's always been a involved in the game in a playing, coaching Rugby Union has a clear rule that only love/hate relationship with the officials. or ownership capacity. the captain and the scrum leader may I’ve always respected what they do.” The recent appalling events in the approach the referee to inquire as to the Once in a while, it is acceptable for a Netherlands are an extreme example. Four thinking behind a decision. Even in club to put the good of the game above the teenagers have been charged with man- cricket where appealing for a decision is short term interest of controlling and slaughter after a vicious assault on a lines- part of the system, there are regulations manipulating fan opinion. man at a youth league game. There was a and penalties for over appealing. Cont’d on page 9

8 Fl a g & Wh i s t l e – Holiday 2012 issue Time to respect fans continued online for days following punishment by apologising to the referee, Schmid's comments. GM Adrian hoping their fans would never find out? cont’d from page 8 Hanauer stirred the pot further when he Cynically one can conclude that keep- We hope that as Paulson and Schmid told Don Ruiz of the Tacoma News ing their fanbase once more feeling vic- chose not to speak on respect for referees Tribune he had expressed unhappiness timized (sic) met their immediate needs for this article, they can perhaps at least be at Salazar's appointment for the Salt better than encouraging respect for an offi- consistent and maintain that policy of Lake game. cial who, by and large, had made the right silence on refereeing throughout next sea- That was public. Behind the scenes calls – at least on that day. If not, why son. Sadly, the inference is that the both however, the club was apologising for make the apology privately? wish to reserve the right to continue to Schmid's comments. But does it matter? There is one argu- scapegoat officials for poor results in 2013. To have gone public with that apology ment that the level of abuse referees take Fans should be well aware of this tactic by would have helped de-escalate the situa- actually worsens the standard. now and need to be getting smarter when it tion immensely. As part of our effort to improve the situ- happens. Did they want the best of both worlds; ation, we would endorse that and Walton’s One recent case magnified the cynicism an angry fan base blaming Salazar for a ideas in the interview about better com- with which clubs do it. The pillorying and disappointing result, but also contempo- munication within the entire soccer com- vilification of Ricardo Salazar by Seattle raneously trying to lessen the likely munity. Let’s see Supporters Groups invit- ed to attend functions where referees and administrators like Mr Walton can discuss issues informally. We would also add that club officials keep in check the under- standable temptation to whip up fans’ unhappiness with decisions and act with some sort of restraint. Mr Walton believes that respect cas- cades down from players’ attitude to refer- ees, all the way to spectators. These individuals who try and pin blame on referees may be making themselves feel better and may be courting popularity with the fans, but they also may want to consider the knock-on effect of those tele- vised images and how many referees on the way up the system will be affected by their actions. We are losing people who may have turned out to be the best referees. And the blame may partly lie with those moaning Referee gets surrounded by DC United and Whitecaps player the loudest about the quality of those left. Life Of A Referee Not For The Faint Of Heart By John Leceister, Associated Press (as appeared in National Post.com) PARIS - The players were more boys oversees in the Paris suburbs, to globally like Chelsea vs. Manchester United – the than men, not yet 17. But they were furi- televised high-octane encounters in the game Clattenburg worked last Sunday - can ous. Mimicking the ugly behaviour of English Premier League – there's a body place intolerable pressures on the officials professionals seen on TV, they swarmed of evidence to suggest that a person has to in black. around the referee, haranguing him to be a little mad, a bit of a masochist, to Refereeing can be a pleasure for those disallow the goal just scored against them. want to officiate in a sport where system- who are passionate about it, a vocation for One player was particularly aggressive, atically tearing strips out of referees, ver- the luckiest and very best. While top play- threatening violence. So Nicolas Perron bally and physically, has become a sport ers may earn in a week what top referees did what any referee should do: He sent in itself. get in a year, the likes of Clattenburg still him off. The career of Mark Clattenburg, one make a tidy living. They get to rub shoul- From there, it went from bad to worse. of England’s top referees, who oversaw ders with stars, the ego tripping of world- “He started coming toward me, I could see the men’s final at the London Olympics, wide exposure, the thrill of stepping out he wanted to hit me. I started to retreat.­ could be derailed if there’s any truth to into famous arenas, Old Trafford, the Camp Then, I ran,” Perron recalled in an inter- allegations in the British press that he Nou. All referees share a common bond, view. “The players followed me. The play- may have called a black Chelsea player, even the vast majority who don’t reach the er I red-carded punched me in the face. I John Obi Mikel, a “monkey.” heights, who aren’t even salaried: The fell to the ground. The players hit me while Police are investigating. So is the knowledge that they are indispensable, that I was on the ground, kicking me.” Football Association. Regardless of the football wouldn’t be a sport loved and What the heck? This is sport? No mat- outcome, it’s hard not to see the whole played by billions if they weren’t there to ter which level of football you look at – affair as yet another example of how ref- keep the peace, enforce the rules. from amateur games like those Perron ereeing high-stakes, tinderbox match-ups Cont’d on page 10 Holiday 2012 issue – Fl a g & Wh i s t l e 9 Faint of Heart there in an authoritative position saying touched the Chelsea striker before he that flopped down too easily. cont’d from page 9 Dwindling respect for figures of authority; Foul language; Hair-trigger Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Eddie Keogh/Reuters resort to violence. The bear-traps for If referee Mark Clattenburg is found Striker Fernando Torres, was given a referees are societal problems, too, not guilty of directing a racial remark toward second yellow card, resulting in a red, for just restricted to football. Criminologists Chelsea’s John Mikel Obi, it would likely diving late in Chelsea’s 3-2 loss to using data from the French Football signal the end of his career. Manchester United on Sunday. Federation reported this July that 5,417 Still, football can’t have it both ways. “On the pitch, you’re, quote-unquote, referees were victims of aggressive Fans, managers and administrators say they the boss. It’s another perspective on foot- behaviour in the 2010-11 season in are sick of players diving. They look to ball that I really enjoy,” said Perron, who France. This from a total of 711,375 referees to lay down the law. Given how officiates under-17 matches and hopes to amateur matches. hard it can be to tell a dive from a genuine make refereeing his career when he’s com- That means such incidents are still fall, these are invariably tough calls. pleted his engineering degree. quite rare – affecting just under eight out There’s since been scrutiny of Clat­ten­ “It’s a passion. It’s not because some- of every 1,000 matches. The vast major- burg’s style, more chatty with players than thing happened to me once that I should ity of the affected referees, 86%, were strict disciplinarian. But, as Barber noted, give it up. In the immediate aftermath, I on the receiving end of verbal, not "referees aren’t all clones, they do it in did think to myself that there’s no point physical, violence. Still, that’s more their own way. As long as it works, there’s doing this if I’m going to get punched on than 100 referees verbally or physically not a right and there’s not a wrong way." a pitch. But it happened just once and, roughed up each week. Mostly, the If Clattenburg hadn’t sent off Torres and weighed against all the pleasure I get in aggressors are players. Branislav Ivanovic, and if Chelsea hadn’t all the other matches, I have no regrets Two of the players who attacked lost 3-2 to a clearly offside winner by about continuing.” Perron in December 2009, when he was United’s Javier Hernandez, would Chelsea Still, when was the last time you heard 16, giving him a black eye and prompt- have subsequently complained to the FA of a referee being thanked, warmly praised? ing his father to call police, were banned that the referee used "inappropriate lan- In the era of instant Twitter-analysis, the from football for 20 years, with six oth- guage" with two players? That’s an inter- job is only getting more difficult. ers banned for three years, and another esting hypothetical question. At the top, referees with one chance for two. Perron said he was chased again One of the players was later reported to and one angle to see an action are instantly be Mikel, the Nigerian second-guessed and judged by television shown a yellow card by replays - which they don’t have access Clattenburg, apparently for to because football’s rule-makers don’t talking back at him. allow it. Clattenburg hasn’t re­sponded They are policing players who deliber- publicly to the allegations. ately try to hoodwink them, drilled to The national secretary of the deceive and cheat - to dive for penalties, referees’ union, Alan feign injury, sneakily tug shirts, waste time Leighton, said in an inter- and otherwise bend rules but not get caught. view it wouldn’t help And post-match, referees are meant to keep Clattenburg’s defence to talk their opinions to themselves, while players now. “I want Mark to have and managers immediately complain about the best opportunity to pres- their decisions to the cameras. ent his case and the best way Scorn for referees is handed down, of doing that is by present- father-to-son, from one generation of fans ing it to the proper authority, to another. Three years after he was picked Photo: John May not to have it rehearsed in the press," he apart in the court of public opinion and by another angry player in a separate said by phone. screamed at by Chelsea players for his on-pitch brawl a few months later. “That If Clattenburg is found to have used decisions in a Champions League semi- time, I managed to get away,” he said. racially abusive language, then it’s hard to final match against Barcelona, Norwegian “You have to know how to run." imagine a rosy future at the top of the game referee Tom Henning Ovrebo told the At Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge last for the 37-year-old candidate to officiate at Guardian this year that he still gets occa- Sunday, the challenge for Clattenburg the 2014 World Cup. sional abusive emails from the London was of a different magnitude entirely. “If that is proven, and it comes from a club’s supporters. To spare upset, he doesn’t This was two of England’s richest teams referee, I think potentially that’s the end of show them to his family. in a game that, when points are totalled his career,” Barber said. “You cannot have “Irrespective of what you do out there, at season’s end, could help determine somebody who’s out there in an authorita- whether you smile, joke, laugh, have a whether either of them is crowned the tive position saying that.” great game or not, you’ve got to accept the Premier League champion. But what if Clattenburg said nothing fact that you’re in a profession where “Those games, the referee, clearly - abusive? What if this was just crossed nobody likes the referee,” former Premier and I’ve been there – is under immense wires in a noisy stadium between players League and FIFA referee Graham Barber pressure,” Barber noted. from abroad and a referee who speaks in a said in an interview. A football manager Overall, Clattenburg did well. Show­ broad northern English accent? shared that somewhat depressing pearl of ing a second yellow card to Fernando Well, again, there’ll be those questions: wisdom with him years ago, “and I never, Torres, sending him off, for diving was Why would anyone volunteer to put them- ever forget it.” questionable, because it was clear from selves through such ordeals? Who, in their You cannot have somebody who’s out video replays that United’s Jonny Evans right mind, would be a referee?

10 Fl a g & Wh i s t l e – Holiday 2012 issue